Barrel tongs



June 5, 1945. R. w. WESTFALL BARREL TONGS Filed May 26, 1944 @5527 W h zsrFALL,

INVENTOR.

- fan ATQTORNEY.

Patented June 5, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BARREL TONGS Robert W. Westfall, Yermo, Calif.

Application -May 26, 1944, Serial No. 537,375

2 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus commonly known as a sling such as used for handling barrels, drums and the like by means of a hoist, crane or similar apparatus.

The present invention is designed particularly for handling a number of drums at the same time and primarily consists of a hoisting member which may be in the form of a beam, rod or pipe upon which a plurality of pairs of arm are pivotally mounted, the arms in each pair being oppositely disposed with respect to each other and having hooks at their lower ends which project inwardly therefrom. Provision is also made for limiting the swinging movement of the arms in each pair toward each other when the arms are not in engagement with the drum or barrel to be hoisted.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a sling of simple and sturdy construction having .few parts which can be easily manipulated for handling the objects to be moved with a minimum of effort. The sling of the present invention is constructed on the theory that each pair of arms constitute a pair of tongs for lifting a single druin in such a manner that the weight of the drum has a tendency to pull the arms downwardl and consequently inwardly, thereby insuring that the drum, once engaged by the arms, cannot become disengaged until the weight of the drums has been relieved by landing the drum on a supporting surface such as a car, platform or the ground.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter from the following description and draw Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of one end of the hoisting member; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view showing a link connection with one of the legs.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, l0 designates what I have termed a hoisting member, which in the form shown is a hollow length of pipe although it is to be understood that this member may be a bar, beam or other similar structure. The member In is provided with two upwardly extending ears, indicated at H, in which are pivotally mounted eyes l2 to which are attached hoisting cables indicated at 13.

Spaced along member ID are a plurality of.

pairs of arms indicated at M, each pair consisting of a red It forming a leg, the lower end of which is provided with an inwardly extending hook I6. The upper end of the rods l5 are bent to form eyes I! which receive the member ID. The arms IS in each pair, when suspended from the member I0, have a tendency to swing inwardly toward each other and for the purpose of preventing this, when the sling is not in use, the eye on each arm is provided with a projection or lug indicated at l8 which engages against an abutment H) which is welded to or otherwise secured to the member Ill. In the form of invention shown I have illustrated the sling as provided with four pairs of arms 15, each pair arranged to engage a single drum. For the purpose of manipulating these arms so that two drums can be engaged between the arms with a single operation, I connect the arms of two pairs together by means of links indicated at 20, such links having an eye 2| formed at each end which receives the arms, the arms being provided with circular flanges indicated at 22 to maintain the links in proper place on the arms as the eyes 2| of the links freely engage the arms.

It is to be understood that with the form of sling shown two pairs of arms may be operated as a unit to engage two drums. This is done merely by grasping one of the links, swinging the sling so that the arms of such two pairs of links engage one end of the drums and then spreading the arm so that the opposite arms of the two pairs of links engage the opposite ends of the drums. It will readily appear that when the sling is lowered and the drums rest upon a support the arms may be readily disengaged from the drums by means. grasping the links 20 and pulling outwardly from the drums.

Although one form of the invention has been particularly shownand described, it is contemplated that various change and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention and it is intended to cover such changes and modifications as come within the scope of the claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A sling comprising: an elongated hoisting member; a plurality of pairs of arms pivotally mounted on said hoisting member depending therefrom; cooperating mean on said hoisting member and each arm for limiting the pivotal movement of the arms on said member; links connecting each pair of arms to another pair and a hook on the lower end of each arm.

2. A sling comprising: an elongated horizontally disposed hoisting member, hoisting attachments on said member; a plurality of pairs of arms each having an eye formed at its upper end freely receiving the said member; an abutment on the said member for each arm; a. projection on the eye of each arm engageable with one of the abutments on said member; a hook on the lower end of each arm and links connecting each pair of arms to another pair.

ROBERT W. WESTFALL. 

